El Megaloceros giganteus, fue una de las criaturas más majestuosas que recorrieron las praderas y bosques abiertos de Eurasia durante el Pleistoceno. Su figura alcanzaba más de dos metros de altura a la cruz y podía pesar hasta setecientos kilos, pero lo que realmente lo distinguía eran sus colosales astas: estructuras que se extendían más de tres metros de ancho y que convertían a este animal en un símbolo de poder y belleza natural. 🔹 Clasificación Orden: Artiodactyla Familia: Cervidae (cierv

Rudolph as an Adult 🙂 #Megaloceros giganteus, Great Horn Giant (Blumenbach 1799), though nicknamed “Irish Elk,” is technically a #deer. It lived around 450,000 years ago in the #Pleistocene and died out recently, around 7,700 years ago. I wish it was still around! Growing up, #Megaceros (note it doesn’t have the “lo”) was its name, and it lived in Ireland. Today we know it lived across much of Europe with suggestions it ranged as far as Greece. Recent DNA studies indicate its closest relative i

In Awe! Megaloceros giganteus (“great horn, giant,” Blumenbach 1799) ends the same way. Though nicknamed “Irish Elk” it is technically a deer. And what a deer! It lived in the Pleistocene, ~450,000 years ago, and died out recently, around 7,700 years ago. I wish it were still around. As it turns out, what I grew up knowing and what is now in the literature do not align. As a lad, #Megaceros (note it doesn’t have the “lo”) was its name, and it lived in Ireland. We now know it lived across much of